Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who has seven national championships to his name, once worked as a defensive coordinator on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff with the Cleveland Browns. Both coaches, with their phenomenal records, hold each other in high regard, as Saban detailed on “The Pivot Podcast” on Jan. 21.
Nick Saban Names Player Bill Belichick Exempted From His Size Rule
Talking to hosts Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder, the newly appointed College Football Hall of Famer said of Belichick, “Some of the best things I know in my development as a coach came from him.”
Saban further discussed Belichick’s clear approach to player evaluation, noting that the right idea of size, speed, character, and intelligence was a must, and for a player to be a “Belichick guy,” they had to have a big physique.
However, while recalling a funny narrative about his wife Terry Saban’s habit of proving his previous point, Saban also exempted a player from the rule:
“I always tell this story if you went to our lake house, we would have seven bottles of ketchup and no mustard because Miss Terry goes to the store with no list so she just buys s**t.
“All right, so, that could never happen with Bill Belichick because he defined; when we went and worked out players, I mean, if you weren’t 6′ and weighed 180 pounds and run less than 4.5 to play corner. … Now, there was an exception to that, you know, Aaron Glenn was one of them, you know that I went and worked out, we liked him, but that’s what he wanted at that position, he wanted bigger guys.”
Former NFL cornerback and current defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, who refuses to be boxed in as just a defensive coach, played under Belichick when the coach joined the New York Jets in the winter of 1997. Glenn, in his third year at the time, was listed at 5’8.5″ but stayed until 2001.
Now, more than two decades later, the former is also in the coaching line, currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Glenn had a conversation with the Jets for their open head coaching position for the second time on Jan. 21. According to Ian Rapoport, “The deal isn’t done & there are still some particulars to discuss. But if all goes well, he could end today as HC of the NYJ. If not, the [New Orleans Saints] await.”
A monumental day: Top target Aaron Glenn visits the #Jets & the goal is to keep him from leaving the building, sources say.
The deal isn’t done & there are still some particulars to discuss. But if all goes well, he could end today as HC of the NYJ. If not, the #Saints await. pic.twitter.com/70yHBb5Rel
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025
If this does come to fruition, Glenn might just see himself following in the footsteps of the legendary coaches.
